Why few NRL stars can afford to make switch to NFL like Jarryd Hayne did

South Sydney prop Thomas Burgess has trained with three NFL clubs in recent days but the financial risks are likely to dissuade other NRL stars from attempting to follow in the footsteps of Jarryd Hayne at the peak of their careers.

After working out with New York Giants last Thursday, Burgess trained with Buffalo Bills and New York Jets in a move that sparked speculation he may be the next NRL player to make the move after Hayne, who was signed by the San Francisco 49ers earlier this year after quitting Parramatta at the end of the 2014 season.

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Despite last month extending his contract with Souths until the end of the 2018 season, it is believed Burgess has a get-out clause in the new deal should he choose to pursue a career in NFL.

However, such a move would be a huge gamble for Burgess as his deal with the Rabbitohs is the biggest of his career and worth significantly more than the $US100,000 ($136,000) that players in NFL practice squads earn.

Hayne was earning about $US25,000 a week while a member of the 53-man squad at the 49ers, but before that he was receiving just $US600 a week and his demotion to the practice squad has resulted in him having to take a dramatic pay cut.

The former NSW and Australian star has had the financial support of Telstra and other sponsors to enable him to attempt the switch – backing that few other NRL players could wish for.

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Hayne was also one of the highest paid players in the NRL, with his contract at the Eels believed to be close to $1 million a year before he left.

St George Illawarra fullback Josh Dugan, who this year replaced Hayne in the No.1 jersey for the Blues, last month told Fairfax Media he had put his own NFL ambitions on hold because he could not afford to do what Hayne has done.

"If I was to get paid I would go over but it would be me going over on my own back and I would be forking out a lot of cash," Dugan said. "Haynesy got deals with Telstra and all of that sort of stuff so he was still getting an income, but I would have to go over on my own coin."

Willie Mason had an unsuccessful trial with the New York Jets in 2006 while playing for Canterbury, while Newcastle forward Corey Paterson worked out as a kick-off specialist and punter for the Arizona Cardinals, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders in 2008 after NFL scouts heard he could place-kick a ball between 70 and 75 metres.

However, neither took their interest in NFL further and Rabbitohs officials are hoping that the experience will "scratch the itch" for Burgess, who is a keen student of American football.

Burgess trained with the Giants last Friday and it has since emerged that he has also attended workouts with the Bills and Jets. It is unclear if he is also planning to train with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He has been trialling as a tight end – an offensive position that would involve him catching the ball and blocking for his quarterback and running backs – and while comparisons have been made between the builds of Burgess and New Eng­land Patriots star Rob Gronkowski, the English forward obviously doesn't have the same understanding of the game.